The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) continued to surpass its revenue achievements after it recorded P36.21 billion total income in the first half of 2023 – a 35.64% increment from its year-on-year figures of P26.70 billion. PAGCOR’s revenues for the first half of 2023 was just P2.59 billion or 6.68% short of its pre-pandemic output of P38.81 billion in …

The Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (Metrobank), through its Branch Banking Sector (BBS), stepped up its employee volunteerism program, as it partnered with its corporate social responsibility arm, Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI), in organizing a series of feeding activities to benefit underprivileged individuals in the City of Manila.  Bannered under its social response program ‘Helping Hands,’ more than 200 employees …

Hotel Sogo, the largest hotel chain in the country, marked a new milestone in a grand and festive style, with the formal launching of Hotel Sogo-Timog 2 branch on July 21. The event was well-attended by guests and friends of Hotel Sogo and key officials from the Quezon City local government headed by Ms. Yolly Laxamana, Assistant to the Vice …

Sinag Liga Asya, the newest competitive basketball league, will open its doors starting July 24 to provide more opportunities for homegrown basketball players across the Philippines. Spearheaded by chairman Rocky Chan, head of basketball operations for Visayas and Mindanao Paul Joven, chief operating officer Leo Isaac, and commissioner Salvador Cortez Jr., the Sinag Liga Asya aims to give more pathways …

The shortage of plastic cards for driver’s licenses will normalize by September with up to 130,000 unissued cards expected to be received by motorists. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista clarified Tuesday the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Land Transportation Office’s (LTO) forecast of up to 500,000 plastic card shortage was until October in response to the Memorandum Circular extending the validity …

By Robert Andaya A whooping cash prize of US$100,000 will be at stake in the  Sharks International 9-Ball Open, according to event organizer Hadley Mariano. The prestigious competition is scheduled on July 24-29 at the Sharks Arena along Tomas Morato in Quezon City with a total of 128 players, including 64 foreigners, seeing action. But the bigger picture is that organizers led by Hadley …

DE LA Salle-College of St. Benilde made chess history by becoming the first-ever PCAP Inter-school champion over the weekend. Bannered by FM Narquingden Reyes and Jerich Cajeras, St. Benilde brought down Dasmariñas Integrated High School, 10.5-4.5, to capture the championship and the top prize of P30,000. Dasmariñas Integrated High School settled for runner-up honors and P20,000, while Ateneo de Manila University clinched third place and …

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) announces the  staging in the country of SiGMA Asia Summit 2023 – a huge gathering of top minds and influential leaders in gaming, blockchain and emerging tech industries. Jointly organized by the SiGMA Group and the Artificial Intelligence Blockchain and Cryptocurrency (AIBC), the highly anticipated event, which takes place on July 19-22 at …

Manila Water manages to keep its non-revenue water (NRW) average at 13.35% for the first half of this year sustaining 24/7 water supply to its 7.6 million customers in the East Zone of Metro Manila and parts of Rizal. The water company has been maintaining its NRW average below 14% by implementing vigorous maintenance checks, replacement, rehabilitation, and repairs in …

Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and Land Transportation Office (LTO) OIC Assistant Secretary Hector A. Villacorta received atleast 108,400 motor vehicle plates at the Plate Making Plant located in LTO Central, East Avenue, Quezon City. This marked the initial shipment of the 16,040,640 plates acquired by the DOTr through the winning bidder, Trojan-Tonnjes Joint Venture. To tackle the existing …